Glass-furnace.



F. H. GIBSON.

GLASS FURNAGEL APPLIoATIoN FILED MAY 9,1909.

1,032,598. l Patented July 16, 1912.

l glass into molds or forms by suction, or by a glassfurnace ol"\\substantially the usual type, having a bridge wall, or oat 2, and

' rINiTEn sTiiTns PATENT cranica.

FRANK H. GIBSON, 0F BRIDGETON, N EW JERSEY.

GLvAss-FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Applicationled May 9, ISGS Serial No. 431,786.

/To all 07mm et' may concern:

l built in an improved form of such apparatus particularly intended foruse in connection with I glass blowing machines and presses where`mechanical gathering is possible.

The object of my invention is to provide a structure whereinv asufficient quantity of molten glass at a proper consistency and readilyaccessible for gathering by such ina` chin'es maybe maintained at alltimes; such structure being capable of use in connection with machinesdesigned forl drawing the dipping,- in-any suitable manner.

' A further object of my invention is to provide means for carrying awaythe chilled glass; onthe surface of the molten body caused by thedipping or gathering operation so'tl'rat it can be again brought to theproper molten condition, and to constantly supply fresh portions ofmolten glass at the gatheringpoint or points; thereby permit,- tingmaximum speed in the gathering operations.

My invention is fully shown in the accom panying drawings, iii which:

Figure l, visa plan view of halfofa glass melting furnace made inaccordance with mv invention; Fig.. 2, is a sectional elevatin of thesame; Fig. 3, is a `sectional plan view, taken on the line a-a, Fig. 2,and Fig. l, is a viewillustrating a detail of my, invention.

The essential feature of my invention consists of means for keeping aconstant supply of completely molten glass atthe gathering points, andthe furnace I have shown herewith is provided .with live such gatheringpoints.

In the drawings herewith, l represents heated inthe customary-manner; i3indicating gas ports in tlieside walls for the same.

rectly with the main body of molten glass,-

entrance of gas and air `for combustion within the furnace. The top ofthe furnace is substantially covered, except for gathering openings 4 atthe front, while an opening (not shown) may be provided at the rear ofthe furnace for the introduction of the materials forming theingredients of the glass.

The working end of the furnace in the present instance is semi-,circularand is arched over in the usual manner, and a series of smallsemi-circular ,chambers 6 are said semi-circular wall Vforming p olswhich open into the tank proper.

Over these semi-circular chambers I lace covers 7 in substantially closeproximity with the glass. These covers are made of tire clay 0r otherrefractory material and can be removed readilyk if necessary. In thesecovers, near the outer edge, I provide the openings 4 for gathering theglass. I alsol provide openings S in' these covers on the inner edge inline with the base of the arc ed top of the furnace, for a purpose to bed scribed hereinafter.

Fo the purpose ofeifecting the maintenance of fresh supplies of fullyand completely molten glass at the vseveral gathering pools at alltimes, I provide rotating stirrers 10 to agitate the mass of glasswithin the furnace, and these. stirrers may be rotated continuously orintermittently as occasion requires. These stirrers are circular in formas shown, and are provided with vanos :.or blades 1l extendinov fromacentral liu'b 2" 12 and. connected at their outer ends b'vfa Betweenvthe outer ring and the hub, I cutl away the upper part of the vanos orblades to allow sutlici'ent .depth of glass forgathering purposes; thestirrcrs being mounted so that the depressions so made come directlyunder the gathering openings in the covers 7. The central hubs of thestirring devices extend through the covers 7 in close proximity with thearched top of the furnace, and such projecting portionsare provided withopenings .preferably angular and of considerable depth in which I mayloosely lit vertical shafts 14 fordriving said stirring devices. Theseopenings are of sufficient depth to allow devices to float on thesurface of the glass under variations in the surface level of the Thechambers 6 communicate diand hence' there is a constant supply of thethe stirring.

Ies

saine brought to the gathering points by the rotation of the stiriers,preventing the accumulation -of chilled glass adjacent said gatheringpoints.

The stirrers 10 are clearly shown in the perspective View, Fig. 4. Theyare made of any suitable form of refractory material and as indicated,comprise simply a hub carrying a series of vanes or blades coiinected byan outer ring; such vanes being cut away at the top between the hub andring. The stirrers are suitably disposed in the furnace iii theinannerwindicated so as to be capable of rotation on the surface of theglass beneath the gathering points. The shafts 14:, are supported insuitable bearings 15 carried by buck-stays 16 and carry gear Wheels 17.Motion is imparted to said gear Wheels from pinions 1S carried by shafts19, such shafts receiving motion from any suitable source or from aglass Working machine that may be used-in connection with the apparatusforming the subject of my invention. If necessary, the roof of thefurnace may be provided with apertures 20 for the passage of gas burners2l disposed so that their Haines are adjacent the rim of the stirrers,for the purpose of melting any glass that might cool on the same.

I claim:

A 1. The combination of a glass furnace having a body portion with acontracted extension forming a gathering pool, said gathering poolhaving a body of molten glass in direct connection With the main mass ofmolten glass, a removable top or cover section having a gatheringaperture over said pool. means' vWithin the contracted extension ofthefurnace for stirring the glass to lmaintain a freshly molten mass of thesame in said gathering pool, and means for melting any chilled portionsof the mass of glass produced by the gathering operation and restoringthem to the uniform consistency of the main body of molten glass.

2.' The combination of a glass furnace having a body portion With acontracted extension forming a gathering pool, a top or cover haring a.gathering aperture disposed over said pool, a rotatable bladed stirrerarranged Within said contracted eX- tensioii of the furnace and servingto bring bodies of freshly molten glass to the same, means for meltingchilled portions ofthe mass of glass produced by the gathering operationand restoring them to the uniform consistency of the 'main body ofinolteii glass, and means for rotating said st'rrer, the latterprojecting through the top or cover and the connection between therotating means and stirrer being such pools, a top or cover having aplurality of gathering apertures disposed over said pools, rotatablebladed stirrers arranged within said contracted extensions and serv-'ing -to bring bodies of freshly molten glass to the pools Within thesaine, means for melting chilled portions of the mass of glass producedby the several gathering operations and restoring them to the uniformconsistency of the main body of molten glass, and means forindependently rotating said stirrers. l

4:.A The combination with a furnace having a body ofniolten glass and acover with a gathering aperture overlying said molten glass, of arotatable stirrerl supported by the molten glass, the gathering aperturein said cover being disposed at one side of the axis of the stirrer, andblades carried by said stirrersaid `blades being .hollowed on the uppersides and disposed in position to rotate beneath the aperture whereby abody of glass with an uninterruptedsurface may be maintained in propermolten condition at such gathering point;V

The combination with a furnace having a body of molten glass and a coverwith a gathering aperture overlying said molten glass, of a rotatablestirrer supported by the molten glass, the gathering aperture in saidcover being disposed at one side of the axis of the stirrer, bladescarried by said stirrer, and circular rings carried thereby'by Whichsaid blades are spaced and connected to-y gether, said blades beingholloiyed on the upper sides and disposed in position to rotate beneaththe aperture whereby a body of glass lwith an uninterrupted surface maybe maintained inproper molten condition at such gathering point.

G. The combination with a furnace having a body of molten glass, of arotatable stirrer disposed in the body of molten glass, and bladescarried by said stirier,`sa id blades being hollowed on their uppersides with such hollowed portion immersed in the glass whereby a body ofglass with an un1iiterrupteld surface may be maintained in proper moltencondition for gathering. l

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name toy this specification, inthe presence of tivo subscribing witnesses. l

i FRANK' H. GIBSON.

litnesses l y FRANK S'. MCKEE, Jr.,A GORDON. MCNEIL.

